MathLiveGravitational potential energy
Gives the energy an object of mass m has because of its position in the gravitational field of mass M, with zero taken at infinite separation. Near a planet's surface, where r changes little, it reduces to U = mgh.
U = -\frac{GMm}{r}What the symbols mean
| gravitational potential energy (J) | |
| gravitational constant, about 6.674 \times 10^{-11} \, \mathrm{N\,m^2\,kg^{-2}} | |
| mass of the attracting body (kg) | |
| mass of the object (kg) | |
| distance between the centres of the two masses (m) |
About this formula
- FieldPhysics
- TopicGravitation and energy
- LevelUniversity
- Also calledgravitational energy, GPE, Newton gravitational potential energy, potential energy gravity
- SourceWikidata Q2297853
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